Major Applewhite joining Alabama staff

Applewhite, who was Houston’s head coach the past two seasons, is joining the Crimson Tide staff as an analyst, sources told AL.com.

The 40-year old Applewhite was Nick Saban’s first offensive coordinator at Alabama back in 2007 but left for Texas after one season.

Houston parted ways with Applewhite Dec. 30. After going 7-5 during Applewhite’s first full season as head coach in 2017, the team won seven of its first eight games to start this past season but then lost four of the final five games, including a 70-14 loss to Army in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Applewhite, a former starting quarterback at Texas, was Houston’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Tom Herman in 2015 and 2016 after six seasons at Texas.

Applewhite becomes the latest big name coach to join the Alabama staff as an analyst. The Tide has also hired Mike Stoops this offseason. Stoops, who was Arizona’s head coach from 2004 to 2011, was most recently Oklahoma’s defensive coordinator from 2012 until being fired in October.

Matt Zenitz is an Alabama and Auburn reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter@mzenitz.